The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said its decision to challenge the outcome of the 23rd February, 2019 presidential election in court remains unchanged.
The party’s National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus stated this Monday while addressing party stakeholders at the expanded caucus meeting in Abuja.
He said nothing would stop the party and its presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar from challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari’s All Progressives Congress.
Previous peace moves
National Peace Committee led by former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, had at a meeting last week, pleaded with Atiku and the party leaders to shelve the idea of contesting the election outcome in court.
Similarly, human rights lawyer, Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, and former Military Governor of Kaduna state, Col. Umar Dangiwa (retd) as well as other notable individuals and groups also called on the former vice president to accept the outcome of the election in the spirit of good sportsmanship.
But at the end of their meeting with the peace committee, the PDP leaders made some demands from the federal government.
The demands included among others; unfreezing the bank accounts of opposition figures and demilitarising the South-south and South-east zones ahead Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly polls.
Although the committee submitted the demands to President Buhari, the president was however reported to have said he was not going to compromise his administration’s anti-corruption fight for any group or individuals.
PDP resolves
And rising from its expanded caucus meeting in Abuja Monday, PDP National Chairman, Prince Secondus said: “Nothing will make us waver in the pursuit of justice. The decision to go to court has been finalised and the process has began. Justice, no matter what anyone will do or what the APC will say, we will seek justice to the highest court of the land.
“The decision to go to court has been finalised and agreed and the process is on. The lawyers have been assembled. We may be in court today or tomorrow. No one can stop us, he said.
“What (has) happened has never happened in the history of this country. They are celebrating criminality, they are celebrating evil. Our leaders are not talking and if you don’t speak against evil, it will consume everybody.”
Secondus also said there may be no election in 2023 because of alleged military’s involvement in the electoral process.
“INEC and its ad-hoc staff are intimidated and everyone is quiet. We will nosedive and go deeper and deeper into the situations we find ourselves. Nobody is saying anything. In Lagos a section of it was not allowed to vote.
“The son-in-law to our candidate, Alhaji Babalele Abdullahi and his personal lawyer, Uyiekpen Giwa-Osagie, have been detained without justification. This is full-blown dictatorship. We ask for the release of Atiku’s lawyer and his son in-law because they are political detainees.”
Secondus said the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was becoming an agent of suppression of the masses.
“This country is so sentimental, I can tell you emotions and sentiments will not bring food on your table, it will not turn the economy around, rather we will nosedive and go deeper and deeper in the situation we find ourselves.
“The leaders of the country are keeping quiet, the peace committee is keeping quiet, everyone here is keeping quiet, what you have now is a full-blown dictatorship, that is what we are getting.”
At the meeting were the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Abubakar, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Senator Dino Melaye, Senator Philip Aduda, former Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu, PDP BOT Chairman, Wali Jibril, former Governor of Kogi state, Idris Wada and other members of the PDP National Working Committee.
Those absence included Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Speaker House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, running mate to the party’s candidate, Peter Obi and all governors of PDP-controlled states.
Group backs move
The move has received support from a political pressure group; the Better Nigeria Group (BNG) which said the decision was not just about Atiku but Nigerians who voted during the poll.
Spokesman of the group, Mr. Dickson Iroegbu, stated this while addressing journalists in Abuja Monday.
He said if the irregularities were allowed to stand, they would affect the country’s democracy.
“We therefore wish to support the candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, to immediately resort to approach the court for redress as this will strengthen our democracy.
“This is in a bid to claim the mandate which the people overwhelmingly gave to him through the ballot box. We frown seriously at the perceived contemplation that going to court means reneging on the peace accord.
“We understand that the courts are a part of a democratic process and reaching out to them for perceived grievances does not in any way mean war.
“It is important that the PDP candidate realises and consistently keeps in his memory that it is not about him, but those who have given him the mandate.
“While we understand that he may be under tremendous pressure not to approach the court, we want to remind him that anything short of that shall be tantamount to abandonment of the people’s mandate and shall be a huge disappointment.
“There really could not be true peace in the face of so much injustice. To ask for justice so that there may be peace was only a short term measure. This could be likened to dressing a dirty wound. It will never heal.
“The possible long term impact of allowing this to stay unchallenged is so huge that the country may never recover from its impact,” he said.
Ex-presidential candidates caution
But the forum of presidential candidates and political parties for good governance has asked the PDP candidate to drop any litigation plan on the outcome of the election and accept defeat.
Addressing journalists in Abuja Monday, Chairman of the forum, Alhaji Shittu Mohammad Kabir, said the interest of the nation would not be served by Atiku’s intended legal actions.
Kabir said: “After the presidential contest and the declaration of a winner, it is time we begin the process of moving the country forward. Now is the time to do away with primordial sentiments, especially all ethnic, religious and class sentiments. Nigeria is bigger than all.
“We have taken keen interest in the pronouncements of politicians and some other statements on the outcome of the election and its acceptability or otherwise. It is our considered opinion and conviction that the interest of the nation will not be served by any party or individuals resorting to litigation, either to upturn the verdict of INEC or challenge the conduct of the election.’’
